Washing machine



H. F. SNYDER WASHING MACHINE Dec.. 3, 1929u Filed March 25 1926 Iman/ffwara der;

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD F. SNYDER, FNEWTON, IOWA., ASSIGNOR T0 THE MAYTAG COMPANY, 0F NEWTON, IOWA, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE WASHING MACHINE Application med March 25, 1926.Serial No. 97,176.

The present invention relates to a washing machine of the type whosedriving mechanism extends upwardly through the bottom of the tub.

Among the objects of this invention is to produce a washing machinehaving a driving mechanism arranged to prevent leakage through thebottom of the tub.

Another object of this invention is to prow duce a liquid impellingmember or liquid impeller of the type shown in my copending application,Serial No. 568,158, filed June 14,

1922, and so combined with a high center drive as to give eflicientoperation and yet permit the quick and easy detachment of the liquidimpeller from the upstanding parts without the removal of the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine whichis durable in 2o construction,eiiicient in operation, and economical inmanufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a washing machine havinga substantially silent driving mechanism with an adae justment tocompensate for wear and to eliminate noise.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will later become morereadily apparent.

My invention further resides in the com- 3@ bination, construction andarrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and,while I have'shown therein a preferred embodiment, I wish it understoodthat the same is susceptibleof modification and change without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings d.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the operating portion of themachine.

Fig. 2 is a disassembled perspective view showing the manner of joiningthe shaft 10, the head 13, and the sleeve 15.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taxen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a tube 1having a bottom 2 and a top 3. In an opening of the bottom a plate 4 issuitably secured and forms a leak-proof joint with the upstanding tubeor sleeve 5 50 which it supports. Beneath the plate 4 and securedthereto is a bearing bracket 6 fastened by bolts 7. A reciprocable rack8 engages with and drives a pinion 9 which, in turn drlves the shaft 10.The pinion is secured to the shaft by the pin 11. At the top of theshaft 10, secured thereto by the pin 12, as a head 13. A cap 14 isdisposed over the top of the assembly and is a protection therefor.

A driving sleeve 15 is engaged by the pin 12 and extends above thenormal water level in the tub. The lower end of the sleeve 15 is guidedon an annular bearing 17, which prevents lateral movement of the lowerend of the sleeve. Positioned tightly on the lower end of the sleeve 15is a iianged torque collar 16 which supports a liquid impeller 20 anddrives it by means of the engagement of a pin 19 with the notch 18. Theliquid impeller 20 is slidably removable on the collar 16, and is of thesame general construction as that disclosed in my above mentionedco-pending application. It will be noted that the diameter of theaperture in this liquid impeller is considerably greater than theaverage diameter of tle sleeve 15, this being a feature which permits ofthe quick and easy removal of the liquid impeller from the drivingmechanism Without disturbing any part of the driving mechanism. In thismanner one who is not skilled in mechanical arts may readily re move andreplace the liquid impeller without any loss of time or without anyinjury to the mechanism. l

A roller 21 is mounted on an oseillatable arm 22 which swings about anaxle 23. This arm and roller are provided as a means for urging the rackinto engagement with the pinion, while the special axle 23 provides anadjustment whereby the roller may be advanced toward or withdrawn fromthe driving shaft 10 in its oscillatory movement 'by a simple adjustmentof the axle 23.V This member 23 has a circular exterior bearing surfaceon which the arm 22V swings and is itself rotatable about the bolt 7which pierces it through a hole which is eccentrically located in themember 23. In this manner wear incident to the prolonged use of themachine may be taken up and unnecessary friction and noise in theengagement of the pinion and rack may be eliminated.

A suitable guide bearing 24 is positioned within the upstanding tube 5to prevent lateral motion'of the shaft 10. It will be noted that theshaft 10 has an upper and lower bearing which will hold it rigldlyagainst lateral movement, while the rotatablesleeve 15 at its upper endis indirectly guided by the bearing 24 and at its lower end by thebearing 17 against lateral movement. The pinion'9 and the housing 6constitute the sole vertical support and bearing for the shaft 10 andthe associated rotatable parts contained within the tub. Thiscombination of bearings in the construction illustrated makes possiblethe `provision of a driving mechanism and a liquid impeller removablysecured thereto all of which may rotate freely and without any lateralvibratory movement. And while the construction of movable parts receivesa very rigid support from the bottom of the tub the structure preventsany possible leakage of the liquid through the bottom of the tub intothe driving mechanism. The machine described herein is not only able tothoroughly and eiliciently perform the washing operation, but due to itsrugged construction it is capable of handling heavy charges of materialto be washed and to have a long and useful life.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub having an aperture inits bottom, a tube mounted 1n the aperture and upstanding in the tub, adrive shaft passing through the tube and extending through and below thelower end of the tube, a bearing for the lower end of the shaft, abearing between the upper end of the shaft and the upper end of thetube, a spacing member rigidly fastened to the upper end of the shaftand projecting beyond the upper end of the tube, a sleeve extendingabove the upper end of the` tube and extending downwardly adjacent thebottom of the tub, the upper end of said sleeve being secured to saidspacing member, said sleeve being spaced from the tube except for abearing sleeve disposed between the lower exterior wall of the tube andthe inner lower` wall of the sleeve, and a liquid impelling membermounted on the lower portion of the sleeve for rotation therewith.

2. In a washing machine the combination of a tub, having an aperturedbottom, a tube mounted in the aperture and upstanding in the tub, ashaft passing through the tube, a sleeve rigidly connected. to the upperend of the shaft and closing the upper end of the tube, said sleevehavin a smooth, outer cylindrical surfacefand liaving its lower endprovided with an outstanding portion hav lng a perforation, a liquidimpeller having a circular bore adapted freely to fit over the sleeveand to slide over the lower end thereof and provided with a projectionadapted to interlock with the perforation whereby to drive the impellerfrom the sleeve while permittin the facile detachment of the impellerfrom t e sleeve.

3. In a washing machine the combination of a tub having an aperturedbottom, a tube upstanding therein, a shaft passing through the tube, asleeve fastened to the upper end of the shaft and closing the upper endof the tub and extendin downwardly adjacent the bottom of the tu saidsleeve havin a ,smooth outer cylindrical surface and having a collarfast to its lower end, said collar having an outstanding flange formedwith a slot, a liquid impeller having a circular bore and slidableendwise of the collar and sleeve, said impeller having a pin projectingfrom its under face adapted to project into the slot of the collar forforming a driving connection between the sleeve and the impeller.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, a tubular stand-pipe having one endfixedly supported by the bottom of said tub, a smooth surfaced tubulardefiecting stem enclosing said standpipe, a shaft extendng axiallythrough said stand-pipe and connected with said stem so that they willrotate together, a collar tightly engaging the lower end of said stem,an agitator so supported by said collar as to be maintained 1n anormally fixed elevation with respect to said stem, and means preventingrelative rotation of said collar and said agitator.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a tubular stand-pipe having onel endfixedly supported by the bottom of said tub, a smooth surfaced tubulardeflecting stem enclosing said standpipe, a shaft extending axiallythrough said stand-pipe and connected with said stem so that they willrotate together, a collar tightly engaging the lower end of said stem,an agitator having a hub engaging said collar so as to maintain theagltator in a normally fixed elevation with respect to said stem, and amember carried by the agitator and removably engaging the collar so asto normally prevent relative rotation of the collar and the agitator.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, a tubular stand-pipe having one endfixedly supported by the bottom of said tub, a smooth surfaced tubulardeflecting stem enclosing said standpipe, a shaft extending axiallythrough said stand-pipe and connected with said stem so that they willrotate together, a collar tightly enga ing the lower end of said stemand provided with an annular flange, an agitator resting upon saidflange so as to be maintained in a normally fixed elevation with respectto said stem, and a pin removably extending through said flange andengaging said agitator to normally prevent relative rotation of saidcollar and said agitator.

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7. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a tubular stand-pipexedly supported by the bottom of the tub, a smooth surfaced tubulardeflecting stem enclosing said standpipe and concentric therewith, ashaft extending longitudinally through said stand-pipe and connectedwith said stem so that they Will rotate together, a head secured to theupper end of said shaft and having an enlargement located above theupper end of said stand-pipe and itting Within the adjacent portion ofsaid stem, means connecting said stem with said enlargement so that thestem and shaft will rotate together, and an agitator supported by saidstem.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

HOWARD F. SNYDER.

